FLETC Questions

[OIGBound]

Hello guys and gals, great to stumble across this site and specifically to find a federal job forum. I am going to be FLETC bound come sometime in August and am very curious to know anything and everything I can going in. For those of you out there who have been there...done that.... anything by the way of tips you'd wish you had in your back pocket to flourish at FLETC? I'm not going into one of the bigger agencies, so the pressure of competition won't be there inherently I'm guessing, but I'm just looking for anything you could spare about the day to day grind.... classes and physical reqs etc.

Many thanks! I hope I speak for anyone who comes across this site that to all the men and women in uniform and proudly wearing a badge of any agency we thank you every day for the work you do, even though we may not be able to say it face to face.

BWF

[Switchback]

***Drive, if you can. You'll be thankful on the weekends.

Bring some CDs as the radio reception inthe dorms stinks.

Drink a TON of water while there.

Work out, but avoid some of the organized sports, as that is just a good opportunity to injure yourself.

Stay awake in class and you shouldn't need to study for exams. This is not as easy as it sounds.

Oh, did I say drink lots of water!!!

[OIGBound]

Thx for the feedback Switch. Did you twist an ankle rounding second base or something? -grin-

About the car, did you mean bring it in the context of so you can get home... or just so you have some means of escape to get out of the campus? I'm coming down from Chicago, 1000 miles, so I won't be driving home to the wife on the weekends unfortunately. Looks like I'll be getting a few more frequent flyer miles on Delta.

And as to the classes, and staying awake... that's EXACTLY what I did in undergrad. Went to every class, paid attention as much as humanly possible and I virtually never had to study for an exam more than a cursory review for a few hours.

Are you in the Marshalls? How do you like the fed-life? I'm transitioning from the corporate security realm, will be 4th gen law enforcement and I'm very excited to finally get a chance to step up to the plate.

BWF

[Switchback]

I had no injuries while there, but it happens often.

You'll want the car just for the sake of your sanity on weekends. It'll also be very handy for getting to the airport to fly home.

The drive from the Chicago area is not as bad as you might think.

I also started from outside the LEO community. You should have no problem adjusting. I've been in more than 6 years and love the job... and yes, I am with the USMS.

Good luck and feel free to send any further questions my way.

[Mac]

I went through Fletc and the best piece of advise I can give you is don't drink the tap water. The academy sits in marshland and the tap water stinks of sulfur. I had belly problems the whole time I was there. The academy used to be an old Naval Air Station before Customs opened the academy. The pipes are old and leak. There are bottled water dispensers everywhere. Drink only bottled water. The food there was quite good for institutional food. Excellent salad bar and a decent brunch on Sundays. Take plenty of insect repellant. The mosquitoes and sand fleas are very nasty. They call them no-see-ums. A lot of history there. Enjoy.

Mac

[OIGBound]

Thx Mac, another person responded to me on a different forum and suggested bringing a small refrigerator if I got dorm assignment (in addition to a small TV.. I plan to be reading, at the gym, or sleeping if I'm not out and about with new friends). Do you guys think it's practical to lug a fridge down there? He also said that if you get off-site housing hope for the Embassy Suites... any idea how likely it is that one of the motels will be home for the 9-10 weeks, or are those reserved for people coming back for advanced courses?

And thx again on the bottled water, a very good idea....

The only other question I have is regarding physical battery... does it come right at the end of the session... so you effectively get 9 additional weeks to prepare at the gym etc for it? I don't think the unit I'm going into will have stringent requirements (HHS OIG) but I could definitely use those extra weeks to make sure I'm right on line with the norm.

Regards:cool:

[tommygenewoolworth]

OIG

having attend numerous courses, at the "Center of Excellence", do not take a fridge unless you drive. Skin So Soft works on sand gnats, drinks lots of water, visit PAM's #1, hope you like seafood, visit St. Simon's Island.

So should do fine, if you are going to the CITP (Criminal Investigator Training Program), PT is not that strenous. If people are going to send you things, remember to have your name and class number on the mail, (does have to way of making the rounds without the class number). You may no see it until you graduate.

Finally, the Class Coordinators will help you out, if you have an agency rep, they will be extremely helpful.

If you have BIA or Tribal folks in your class, tell them I said "HI" and call IPA if they need anything.

tomahawk134

[Mac]

If you are billeted in the townhouses that are on post, there is a full size fridge in the living room. If you are lucky (as I was) to be assigned the master bedroom, you will have your own bathroom. I don't know if the dorms have a fridge. There is maid service for your room (or Dorm) Mon thru Fri. After I was done with the Academy, I had to remain for a five week Spanish immersion course. I had been kicked out of the townhouse I was living in and lived the remainder of the time at the Holiday Inn off I-95. As for staying in a hotel, that will be up to the organization you work for to cough up the funds. Most of the hotels there have a deal worked out with FLETC on extended stay room charges. There is no rhyme or reason to which hotel you will be assigned if there is no space on post. As for parking your POV, there are only a few areas where you can park your car. One is obviously at the dorm or townhouse wherever you are billeted. The chow hall is another place but that is short term only for meal purposes. The other long term place is by the indoor pistol range. You can't park anyplace else. If you are staying at a hotel and don't want to drive your car onto the post, there is a FLETC bus service to all the hotels morning and evening. But first get your FLETC ID badge at the security building just outside the main gate. Get a vehicle pass as well even if you decide to use the bus. If you have any firearms, you will have to turn them in at the security building along with any ammo. It will be stored at the facility armory and can be reclaimed once you are done with your training and are leaving to return home. Having an unauthorized firearm is basis for getting kicked out of the Academy. Any other questions let me know.

Mac

[Swat1]

I just happen to be at FLETC right this minute and graduate from the CITP on August 24th. A couple of things -

Drive if you can. I drove all the way from Oregon, BUT, I drove a G-Ride. It has come in quite handy to get off the Center of Excellence on a Sunday. Classes run six days a week now, YEP I said SIX. Monday thru Saturday 0730 - 1630 (and rarely do you get off earlier than 1615. Classes are not that bad especially if you have prior LE experience. The shooting is a lot of fun, especially if you have prior experience.

The food is not bad but it starts to get old about the third week. The place is jam packed, about 4000 students here right now and lines are long.

Bring a TV, would be nice to have a small fridge for the room, but the AC is pretty damn cold and keeps my water a good temp. Definately bring a backpack to carry all the books they will issue you. Bring your' own pillow if you like the comforts of home and a blanket if you can (like I said the AC is damn cold). Of course you have to keep the AC up because if you don't you would be miserable in your room with the humidity.

Start hydrating yourself early. DRINK, DRINK, DRINK and I don't mean beers at the Gay Bar (those who have been here know what I am talking about).

A bike is very handy as you walk everywhere and nothing is close to anything else. There is obviously computer access as that is what I am using so email comes in handy. Cell phone service on base is really bad (barely one bar), so don't count on that to communicate. The phones in the rooms are ancient, bring a cheap cordless if youv'e got it.

Did I mention we are at SIX days a week

Anything else you want to know give me a holler here. Don't use my email because I am not getting it while I am here.

Swat1*

[Island_Girl]

I am the wife of a police officer and boy did we luck out. "Batman" was an officer in that area before he got on with the feds. He went to FLETC from January-May and we were able to see each other on weekends & evenings because we lived on St. Simons Island. Hell, we hosted barbecues for the whole class every weekend and most eves, they would crash at our house, and just stop by randomly to change for the beach and such. It was really a neat time. However, if you have a spouse....try to arrange for a visit on one of your weekends. The area is so great and there's so much to do. You are directly between Savannah and Jacksonville. Of course, with the 6 day current workweek you may not be able to spend all your time together, but she'll have plenty to see, it's a vacation area and it'll give her a reprieve from all that she'll be taking on in your absence. I don't know how some of those married ones did it?!?!?!?
Off the top of my head the things I do recall are the uncountable amount of skeeter bites that the hubby got....eating garlic or taking garlic tablets REALLY helped. DON"T ever be late...no matter what!!! Shop at Sally's, online or when you get there. Definitely eat at Pam's, the food isn't that great but the experience will be worth the mention. If you do manage to make it out to St. Simons....DO NOT get into the nightlife and try to stay focused on your class/studies. That happened to a few during our stint...they didn't have the best marks.
Bring a camera (definitely), we adored St. Simons. We lived there for almost 5 years. It was such a great place. If you like golf and you feel like you could fit it in on Sunday, they have excellent golf in this area. Davis Love has his course close to the base and he lives on SSI. Our favorite place to eat is Miyabi Japanese steakhouse. Sushi...mmmm...YUM!!! But, they put in a sushi place next to Spanky's at the mall and the same guy rolls there as Miyabi. I think it's called Tokyo Joes. I could be mistaken about the name, but I'm not mistake about the sushi. LOL
If you want a nicer evening out, try Redfern Cafe. I worked there for 4 years and never got tired of their food. Seats only 30 call and make RSVPs, they are pricey but worth every cent. Let's see....what else. Study...study ...study...I don't know what course the guy went in for (the one that said you won't have to study hard) but all the students in this particular class were always studying and they seemed to think it was difficult. PT was a breeze for all the guys, the girls had some difficulty. DO drink lots of water. Dehydration is common. If you don't want to buy water....just fill a container and let it sit. The sulfer smell goes away and the water is actually very good to drink. Showers are awful to smell, but oh gee doesn't your skin feel great. Anyway, this particular post has prompted me to get Batman to join the site. He will have more to say because a good time was had by all. He's actually pursuing a career there as an instructor. After we're done goofing off traveling and such. We live in the middle of the ocean right now and I really have a hard time believing my guy gets paid for his job. Unreal. I'm sorry I rambled on and on....I loved our time at FLETC....don't forget your wives though. Take care and good luck.

[navyfiveo]

MAC,

Did you go to FLETC or Charleston?

[navyfiveo]

The best advise I can give is to study. Put everything in the outside world out of your mind Sunday night through Thursday. Friday night and Saturday, get the hell out and do something, even if it's just getting drunk. It is only for a short time then you can get back to your normal life. Stay away from team sports. People tend to get hurt left and right and that can either set you back a little or cost your job. Take care, and good luck.